Merchandise control gate for vending machines



Sp., Q., E N, JAMES 2,489,932

MERCHANDISE CONTROL GATE FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed Aug. 2l, 1948.

T TURNEY Patented Sept. 6, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MERCHANDISE CGN'RRL GATE FOR VENDING MACHHNES of Dallas, Tex.

Application August 21, 1948, Serial No. 45,501

(Cl. S12-48) 5 Claims. 1

This invention relates to machines for Vending bottled beverages and it has particular reference to a mechanism for controlling bottles in transit from storage to a point of delivery in a bottle Vending machine.

In a certain type of bottle vending machine, such as described in an application for patent, Serial Number 778,893 led by the applicant, there is provided a Vertical delivery magazine, on one or both sides of which is a series of inclined storage magazines in vertically staggered communication with the vertical delivery magazine. In the absence of some preventive means, bottles seeking entrance to the delivery magazine from the inclined storage magazines interfere with each other, thereby retarding if not altogether prohibiting transfer of bottles from storage to the delivery magazine.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a control gate at the discharge end of each inclined storage magazine to insure orderly transfer of bottles into the vertical delivery magazine, said control gate consisting of an articulated closure composed of three relatively hinged sections, the uppermost section being hinged to the floor of an inclined magazine for upward displacement while the companion sections are held in a vertical position to close the next lowest inclined magazine by contact therewith by bottles in the vertical delivery magazine. As the column of bottles in the delivery magazine recedes, the hinged gate sections yield to gravity pressure of bottles in the inclined magazines successively and are displaced outwardly and upwardly to release bottles singly from the inclined magazines and by virtue of the hinged relationship of the gate sections, full and adequate performance thereof within the limited space allotted thereto within the confines of the vertical delivery magazine can be effected.

With the foregoing objects in view, the invention has further reference to certain features of accomplishment which will become apparent as the descriptionv proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a group of inclined storage magazines on which are installed the articulated control gates of the invention, shown displaced in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary View of a single inclined storage magazine shelf showing the invention in closed and open position, the latter being suggested in dotted lines, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of an assembly of inclined storage magazines anking a vertical delivery magazine and showing one of the articulated control gates in open position to release bottles from the uppermost active inclined magazine.

This application is a continuation in part of application Serial Number '778,893 above mentioned and numeral i0 denotes the shelf of each of several vertically spaced and inclined storage magazines. These magazines may be disposed, as exemplified in Figure 3, on each side of a vertical delivery magazine i I or, in some cases, on but one side thereof. In the instant case however, the lowest or discharge ends of the inclined magazines are vertically staggered in order that they may be alternately emptied into the vertical delivery magazine ii from whence bottles I2 are singly discharged at the lower end to a point of accessibility to a purchaser.

The release mechanism by which the bottles i2 are singly removed from the bottom of the column in the vertical delivery magazine ll consists of a pair of cooperating, rotary elements i3 having plates i i each provided with a shaft I5 and maintained in right angular relationship and operative to alternately support the column of bottles in the vertical magazine H and to alternately release bottles singly from the bottom of the column. This arrangement constitutes a separate invention and forms the subject matter of application Serial Number 88,722.

Returning to the control gates of the present invention, it is pointed out that each of the shelves ia has an open area i6 extending inwardly from its lowest or discharge edge. Occupying this open area l 6 a plate il Whose upper end is hinged at i8 to the upper edge of the open area i6, the hinge i8 being affixed to the under surfaces of both the plate ll and the shelf i0 to prevent interference with bottles supported on the upper surfaces of these elements.

The lower edge I9 of the plate Il is turned downwardly and an elongated slot 20 is made in the plate at the bend therein as shown in Figure l. An intermediate plate 2| is provided with an eX- tension 22 at its top which is turned inwardly at right angles to the plate 2l and enters the slot 2B of plate il'. The inner end of the extension 22 is turned slightly upward, as shown in Figure 2 and on the underside of this extension is affixed a hinge 23l by which the plate 2! is joined to the downwardly turned end I9 of the plate Il.

Attached to the plate 2l, is a plate 2li which is of substantially inverted L-shape to conform to and lie flush with a companion plate 25 of like formation when the series of plates are in the operative position shown in solid lines in Figure 2. The second L-shaped plate 25 is affixed to a base plate 26 which latter is connected by a hinge 2l to the lower edge of the intermediate plate 2i which serves as the base plate for plate 24 as the plate 2E serves as the base plate for the lowermcst plate 25.

Extending transversely across each shelf l0 at its lower edge is a rod 28 against which rests the extension 22 of the intermediate plate 2l, as

shown inJFigure 2; thus providing a Amovement limiting means orstop Tor the assembly of plates whose relative displacement is outward only.

The purpose in providing an articulated gate as described is to enable the gate `to perform its function within the space limited by the Vvertical parallel members 29 (Fig. 3) dening the den livery magazine Il which Vmust-be restricted -to equal in width the diameter yof a'bottle. v"Otherwise, outward displacement of the gate to permit transfer of the bottles from the inclined magazines to the delivery magazine would be prohibited since the outer extremity of the gate would be obstructed by the opposite wall of the delivery magazine.

'When the vertical delivery magazine-aswell as al1. inclined magazines hasbeen Alilled with bottles, :release of bottles fromthe lower end of thecol- .umn will cause the gates -of the inclinedmagazines'to successively openjfrom the uppermost Vto the lowermost as the vertical column recedes. The'bottles of the column will prohibit outward displacement of the plates 2li and `25-fand-upvv'ard displacement of plate ll of all assemblies except that controlling bottlesin the inclinedV magazine :next above the vtoprbottlevof the column. When 1this :bottle'recedes `belowthe bottom of plate 25, pressure of bottles in xthe inclined magazine against the downwardly turned end l of plate i l -will urge thelatter upwardly and thus swing the plate424 outwardly, with the rod 28 4serving `as the fulcrum. The lfirstbottle in the inclined magazinewill 'then'roll onto the top-bottle in the vertical column, followed by other bo tles in the magazine in successive order `until depleted. This I" operation is repeated as the inclined magazines .arealternately emptied of bottles.

Manifestly, the construction as shown.` and describedis capable of -some-modification and such modication as may be construedto'fall within the scope and meaning ofthe appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit -and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bottle vendingmachine having a vertical bottle delivery magazine Vand a plurality .of inclinedbottle storage magazines, an articulated `gate for each of said storagemagazines for controlling the transf-eroi bottles fromv said storage magazines progressively'into said delivery magazine, said gates each comprising a plate hinged -at one -end tothe oor of an inclined storage magazine and whose opposite end is turned down- 'wardly at the lower end of said floor, saidvplate having an opening adjacent said downwardly turned en'd, a second and inverted .L-shaped plate `having an extension entering the opening in said "'rst plate and hinged to the underside of said rst plate, a third and substantially I -shaped plate'conforming tosaid second plate Aand hinged at its midsection to the midsection of said second "plate, said-second and third plates being adapted to restrain bottles in one vinclined storage magazine underpressure imposed by. bottles in delivery magazine and displaceableto an inoperative position by pressure'cf bottles in an inclined storage'magazineon the downwardly yturned end of said rst plate when the column of bottles in said delivery magazine recedes below said inclined storage magazine.

2. In a bottle vending machine having .avertical bottle delivery magazine and a series Ot-inclined storage magazines in communication therewith at their lower. ends,.an articulated. gate for' the'discharge end of each inclined storage rrr magazine, `said gates each comprising an upper plate hinged at one end-to the loor of an inclined storage magazine and lying normally flush therewith, said plate having a slotted and downwardly turned lower ,end overhanging the lower end of -said oor, a second plate hinged to the underside of said first plate and having an extension enter- -ing the slot in the downwardly turned end of said rst plate, .a third plate hinged to said second plate, said second and third plates normally closing the discharge end of an inclined storage Vmagazine.and;displaceable outwardly to open said storage magazine by pressure of bottles therein onthe downwardly turned end of first plate when pressure is relieved on said second and third plates by bottles in said delivery magazine.

3. In a bottle vending machine having avertical-bottle delivery magazine and a series of inclined storage magazines in communication therewith at their discharge ends, a gate at the discharge end of each of said inclined storage magazines, said gates each comprising a series -of relatively hinged plates the uppermost plate being 'hinged to the floor of an inclined magazine at a -point spaced upwardly from its discharge end and having a slotted lower end turned downwardly over the lower end rof'said magazine floor, an extension on the next adjacent plate entering the slot in said downwardly turned end, a fulcrum rod overlying said extension under said magazine oor, said plates with the exception of said uppermost plate being adapted to normally close the discharge end of the next lowest inclined magazine by pressure of bottles in said delivery magazine and yielding to pressure of bottles in saidY inclined magazine on the downgwardly turned end of said uppermost plate when the column of bottles in said delivery magazine recedes below said plates.

4. In a bottle vending machine having a vertical bottle delivery magazine and va series of communicating inclined bottle storage magazines, a gate at the discharge end of each of said inclined storage magazines, said gates each. comprising a series vof relatively hinged plates, the uppermost plate being hinged to the floor of an inclined storage magazine, the companion plates being suspended and adapted to close the discharge end of the next lowest inclined magazine 4by pressure of bottles in said delivery magazine thereon and means on said uppermost plate adaptedto be engaged by bottles in said inclined magazine to displace all of .said plates when pressure'on said suspended plates is relieved.

5. In a bottle vending machine having a vertical bottle delivery magazine and a plurality of communicating inclined bottle storage magazines, `anarticulated gate for the discharge end of each of said inclined storage magazines,said gates each comprising a series of plates hinged together,` the uppermost plate being slotted and hinged to the vfloor of van inclined magazine, the companion plates being suspended to close the next lowest inclinedy magazine, an extension on theplate next adjacent to said uppermostplate entering the slot inthe latter, ar fulcrum rod under said magazine floor and overlying vsaid extension and means on said uppermostplate engageable by bottles-in said inclined magazine to collectivelypdisplace said plates upwardly ,and outwardly when the column of bottles in said deliverymaga zine recedes below said` suspended plates.

FRAZIERN. JAMES.

*No references cited. 

